I wasn't so sure about Sliding Home when I started it. The last two sports books I've read kind of burned me, so I was leery. Happily, one chapter into Sliding Home and I was hooked!

Ellie is experimenting with "exposure therapy", as in "If I practice being told no, then I will be more confident and less bothered when it happens." This sort of makes sense to me, so I got on board with this premise to the story. Ellie's sister knows that she has an unrequited thing for Jake, a professional baseball player. During a cookout with their cousin (he's on Jake's team), the sister dares Ellie to ask Jake on a good-girl date. She tells him he must take her someplace nice, no sex, that kind of date. To her surprise, he says yes.

Of course, the date ends up in not-good-girl territory and in the worst "caught-on-film" moment in social media, everyone knows it wasn't a good-girl date. Jake impulsively tells the powers that be on his baseball team that they've really been secretly dating and this was only a ploy to bring it out in the open. Clever.

Clever and so sweet. The rest of the story, of course, follows the relationship that develops between Ellie and Jake. Jake is unexpectedly a great character and Ellie is charming. Sure, parts of the story are a little far-fetched, but this is fiction and it ends with my requisite happily-ever-after, so it's ok. I recommend this for a fun, sexy read. You'll like it!

When it comes to the story-line development, I felt like it sometimes was a bit too shallow. Not enough depth or explanations present regarding changes in the story-line.

I really did like these main characters and the chemistry between Jake and Ellie was sooo well written and these two together give off so much 'firework' and I loved that. But when I dig a bit deeper and look into the romance and the development of it, I think it came up a bit short at times.

So I basically, I have a lot of contradictive feelings about huge elements of this book like the story-line development and the romance.

Overall, this was a fun and fast-paced sports romance. One that didn't particularly made a huge impression on me, but which was a fun read, perfect to be reading as a light romance read in between books, you know? I did like the writing a lot though. It was addictively written and I didn't want to stop reading once started - despite my remarks on my contradictive feelings regarding the concent. I do want to read more books by this author in the future but I won't make it a priority either atm.

The hero and heroine in Sliding Home are both very likable. Hard workers who care and are sometimes taken advantage of, they both need someone who will stand in their corner and just love them (even when they run). The hot sex doesn’t hurt either. It's a great read and an easy one to recommend.

I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I tried. I tried really really hard to like this book. I'm a huge baseball fan and love a good romance, but this one was definitely a strike out for me. I did not enjoy the writing at all and kept an open mind throughout this book hoping it would get better. I think the story line was decent and could have gone in a different direction. I found Ellie to be extremely whiny and childish...She made comments about how boys don't like her, boys don't ask her out, her sister is prettier than she is. I felt like I was reading a story about two young teenagers, not grown adults. I really wanted to like this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to others.

A likeable, fun and sexy romance. Nice plot, well written. Ellie and Jake were god together . Overall, I found it to be An enjoyable read.

Jake and Ellie are a cute couple who met in a funky way. A bet of course to ask him out in front of his baseball pals, he freaks her out when he says yes. What suppose to be a fake relationship for the media quickly turns into something real.

I enjoyed this one, it was cute. I liked the ways that Ellie used to get out of her comfort zone. It’s hard being an introvert and speaking up for yourself. You can’t help wanting to please people all the time. Jake’s brother and father were something else. He’s a good guy for helping them, especially helping his dad. Overall, I liked this one a wee bit more than the last one.

3.5☆
This is my first book by Kathy Lyons.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Dual POVs
Part of a series: The Locker Room Diaries
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received an arc from Netgalley. The shortstop playboy and the young nurse who on a dare asks the playboy out. While this is a unique story It was just not a favorite of mine. I would definitely give this author another try though.

Ellie is going through a self experiment. To make rejection feel ok. So, she's been going around asking ridiculous questions in random aspects and asking questions knowing she will get rejected. Until her sister pushes her to ask her crush, a pro baseball player out on an old fashioned date. But guess what, she meets her "match" and he doesn't reject her. He goes all out. But he figures it out. I love their inner dialogue throughout the asking process. Quite funny.

I love Jake's character. Ellie is quirky, different than what he normally goes for, "the good girl" but alas, he develops deep feelings for her. I loved reading how it played out. I really enjoyed this book. Would recommend.

I received an ARC of this book through Betgalley, in exchange for an honest review. My first Kathy Lyons book was the first in this series and I very much enjoyed that book, as well as this one.

If you’re not an avid sports fan, this book will still work for you! There is definitely the lifestyle of a celebrity sports star, what it takes to maintain team morale, public image and all that goes with that position. The story however is more about the relatoinship between the two characters, working through true family and personal battles and having to figure out how badly they want a “real” relationship.

It is an HEA on many plots included in the story, no cheating, definite turmoil and finding oneself for both characters, but a truly enjoyable and well edited story. Love it!

Jake and Ellies story is adorable. I connected so well with Ellie when reading you can't help but love her personality. Jake ehh he took a little while for me to like him but once I did I was a love sick puppy for the guy. Kathy Lyons did a great job with this book I loved everything about it!

Very cute start but ultimately fizzled into a DNF at 57%, mainly because the characters and storyline didn't make any sense. In no particular order:

- Jake refers to himself constantly as a "celebrity", rather than as a professional athlete, which was weird and pretentious. Example:
I could see the exact same argument going through her head. Did she want an old-fashioned date or one that ended in sweet release in a celebrity’s bed?
- Jake has a habit of quantifying everything in percentages, like a running tic.
There was a 100 percent chance I could steal a kiss—a 10 percent risk she’d slap me for trying, but a 90 percent possibility I could get her in my room, in my bed, while I did whatever I wanted to her.
It's not cute and is frankly arrogant and annoying. Especially when he's thinking about sex with Ellie:
She stretched up on her toes and angled her head for a kiss. I knew that was a possibility, but I’d only given it a 3 percent possibility. So color me surprised.
- Jake picks up Ellie for a date at Alinea, one of Chicago's top restaurants, in a tux. This felt like a New Adult kind of Pretty Woman scene and total fashion faux pas. I've been to Alinea - the "smart casual" dress code means sport jackets, not tuxes.

But what really made me finally give this up was when Jake executes a heroic rescue of Ellie and a little boy off their burning hotel balcony. A tabloid posts pictures of Ellie dangling from the balcony sans underwear and labels it "Moon Over Chicago". Do Jake, Ellie or the team publicist denounce the photo or release any kind of dignified statement? No. Bafflingly, everyone agrees that Ellie is being slut-shamed by the media and the only way to counter it is by announcing that Jake and Ellie are in a serious, almost engaged, relationship. WHAT.

More amazingly, everyone also agrees that it is completely ludicrous that the survivor of a hotel fire should or would be "slut-shamed"; yet they all agree the fake engagement is the answer.
"And now they’re turning on Ellie. You’re the hero who rescued a kid from a burning building. But they need a villain and they’ve picked her.”

“That doesn’t make sense!”

“Of course not! And I’m sure whatever you were doing up there on your platonic date had nothing to do with sex. But that’s not what it looks like. The regular media isn’t going to make a big deal about this, but the internet is going crazy. Social media has tagged her as the slut who tempted you into a burning building.”

“That’s ridiculous!"
See, even the book's characters don't believe this plotline (Ellie even argues "I'm the villainess? I don't get it."). And neither did I. I'm really disappointed because this book had a very promising, cute, flirty start. Unfortunately, the hotel fire must have taken all logic and reason with it.

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC generously provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

What a great surprise this book was. When I first started reading I wasn't sure, Ellie's sister Rachel annoyed the nuts out of me. Yes I actually did a couple eye rolls. But then Jake jumped in and I never looked back. I don't even know where to start with this.
Ellie is a nurse who doesn't do rejection well. So she's trying to use exposure therapy (on her own) to get used to rejection. She has a hard time speaking up for herself, however that seems to be situation dependent as we see when she asks Jake out and he doesn't turn her down and now she has to go out with him. Jake and Ellie's cousin play baseball for the same team and Connor is alpa protective of Ellie. Jake is a great guy and challenges Ellie at every turn. Jake didn't follow in his family's footsteps and become a firefighter, nor is he a drunk like his father and brother. Their Mom left years ago.
Jake's the go to man to bail the two out all the time. Jake's about had enough especially when it interferes with his relationship with Ellie. I felt bad when everything the couple did turned in to a photo op for the team's PR rep. She was a bit of a troll. Things go swimmingly along for these two until the All Star game and the two hit a couple skids and a speed bump. Jake's angry, Ellie went home and he's left to deal with the troll and his drunk father. I understand why Ellie left, I would have too. Jake is still angry when he gets back to Indianapolis and talks to Ellie. Ellie had blown her stack at work and her butt is now on the block. She's probably out of a job. She doesn't tell anyone in her family what happened at the games. She does go to Jake after leaving work. He's not home so she goes to his Dad's, sure enough he's there. Jake's still angry and annoyed. More with his father and brother than Ellie. Ellie senses that there's something wrong with Jake and insists he goes to the hospital, she knows people in the ER and this will be kept private. Jake spends a couple days on bedrest and antibiotics. The biggest surprise is are the visits from his brother and some father. Ellie had spoken with them both when Jake was in the ER.
I loved Ellie and Jake. I barely hit the highlights in this review... in fact I didn't hit any. You have to read the book. This was a great story, solid plot. The only thing and I don't think I've ever said this before but the book ends abruptly. But it didn't bother me, I was just a little taken off guard. Maybe I just really wanted a little more.

*advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

This was an ok sports romance book. Not one of my favorite. It was a little too predictable and a little too unbelievable for me. I love sports romance and usually the male lead is a little more standoffish or alpha. This was neither.

Jake is a baseball player on the rise. He has a bad reputation that he has been told to clean up his image if he wants to go pro. His family is dysfunctional and angry and he doesn’t want anyone to know.
Ellie knows her sister is the hot one. She’s tired of being the good girl who’s afraid to stank up for herself so she’s trying to get used to rejection by creating dutyations where people have to tell her no. So she asks Jake on an “old fashioned” date with no sex. But he says yes.
This book was a solid new adult. There were some extreme circumstances that pushed the H/h to make decisions they might have taken. It’s time with. Each person makes poor decisions and thus drama ensues. The drama was not overwhelming but it felt like the relationship was a bit rushed.
I would love to see a book abou Conner.

I am enjoying this series. I am a big baseball fan so there are many parts of this book and series that appeal to me. One of my favorite things about Kathy's writing is the characters. I think there is something about the characters that every reader can relate to a little bit.

Ellie used to be more of a risk taker, but after a few choices didn't work out and being constantly told that she needs to be more careful, she only does things that are a sure thing. An event at work makes her realize that she needs to be a little bolder. I think there's a little bit of Ellie in all of us.

Jake had a rough childhood. He's been hurt. He doesn't let many people into his life, but he can't resist Ellie.

I like the growth that both characters have over the course of the book. They both move out of their comfort zones.

I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I have to say I really connected with Ellie as a character and that make the story all that much better :) Ellie steps out of her comfort zone expecting rejection and when it doesn't come things get a little crazy! A quick steamy read that has a bit of drama to give it some punch.

It was easy to read with a decent story and characters, but I just wanted more from it really. I found it all a bit too easy.

I loved Ellie from the first page, and then I quickly loved Jake as well. They were romantic and sexy together, but there story was about so much more as well. Just a great story with great characters!